DCD in Westland Milk samples

Relevant offers

Traces of the agricultural chemical DCD have been found in Westland Milk Products samples, threatening to further spook overseas dairy product buyers unnerved by news of Fonterra's discovery of DCD residues last year.

The company said it started its own testing for DCD or dicyandiamide after last week's revelations by the Ministry for Primary Industries that DCD residues had been found by Fonterra in some products in September last year.

Westland chief executive Rod Quin said the tests by an independent laboratory found minutes traces of DCD in samples produced before November 1 last year.

The evidence was that product made after November 1 was free of DCD, he said.

The company has been assuring its overseas customers that food safety and human health have not been put at risk by the discovery.

"While we are assured by independent health authorities and the New Zealand government that DCD is not a food safety risk we are very aware that for many of our customers any residue in milk products is undesirable.

"Some of our customers in Asia have already requested test for DCD following the MPI announcement last week," Quin said.